Miley Cyrus Meets Sen. John Edwards, Skips Red Carpet

Miley Cyrus may be skipping the red carpet at this weekend’s 2008 Disney Channel Games in Florida – “on the advice of her management team,” a source tells PEOPLE – but she’s keeping plenty busy anyway, hitting the rides, rehearsing for her upcoming performance, and meeting Sen. John Edwards and his family.

On Thursday, Cyrus and her brother Braison rode the rides at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. While in line for the Test Track ride, Cyrus ran into Edwards and his three children. (The senator’s youngest two children, Emma Claire and Jack, are Hannah Montana fans who were super eager to meet the star.)

“She chatted with them about all the rides and attractions they saw at Walt Disney World,” a source close to the singer tells PEOPLE. “It was a sweet moment.”

On Friday, Cyrus will continue her rehearsals and has some work to do before production begins on the Hannah Montana feature film next week. The singer is also working on her role in Bolt – an animated film to which she lends her voice.

Before Saturday’s performance, Cyrus was scheduled to appear at a red carpet event and media party Friday to kick off the games, the Associated Press reports. A source close to Cyrus tells PEOPLE: “Miley was invited but she is focusing on her rehearsals and preparing for her show tomorrow. She’s happy to be here.”

Also, in light of the recent Vanity Fair photo flap, a Disney Channel source adds: “She was invited to the media party but understandably, is not attending on the advice of her management team.

“She is just 15 and worried and upset over everything related to the photos of her,” the source adds. “Her parents are upset and her entire family is affected too. I just can’t imagine anyone reasonably expecting her team to then put her in the middle of what would be a media feeding frenzy.”